Heliozela resplendella

Heliozela resplendella (Stainton, 1851)

alder lift

Alnus glutinosa, Nieuwendam

excision

mine

The mine begins in one of the more heavy veins of a leaf. Boring in the vein the larva descends towards the midrib. Often in this process the larva moves from one thick vein to another by way of a hair-thin transverse corridor. Once in the midrib the larva descends, not rarely even for one or two cm into the petiole (one can see that by cleaving a petiole). Finally the larve returns into the leaf by way of the midrib, and makes a short, full depth, quickly widening corridor with a clear central line of frass. In the end an oval excision of made of about 2 x 5 mm, in which the larva drops to the ground.

phenology

BENELUX

distribution within Europe

From Scandinavia, Finland and northern Russia to Portugal and Spain, Alps, and Romania, and from Ireland to the Baltic States (Corley ea, 2006a; Fauna Europaea, 2009, A & Z Laštůvka, 2014a); Cyprus (Barton, 2015a).

pupa

Described by Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).

notes

Because no morphological characters were known to separate H. resplendella and Heliozela hammoniella, several authors, including Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a) have sunk the latter in synoymy of resplendella. However, Mutanen ao (2007a) have definitely established that two distinct species are involved